Hull City and Everton played out a thrilling 2-2 draw at the MKM Stadium, delivering an entertaining contest as both teams battled for valuable Premier League points.
After three weeks without Premier League action, Hull returned to a sold-out home ground for their sixth league fixture of the campaign. Sergej Jakirovic’s side were eager to respond after suffering their first league defeat against Newcastle United in their previous outing.
Hull had endured a difficult opening 10 minutes against Newcastle, falling two goals behind before fighting back in the second half. The Tigers were determined to put that disappointment behind them and maintain their impressive start at home, having gone unbeaten in their first two matches at the MKM Stadium.
However, Everton arrived with confidence under David Moyes. The Toffees remained unbeaten in the league but were still searching for their first away victory of the campaign. Sitting just above Hull in the early standings, Everton had an opportunity to strengthen their position with a positive result on the road.
The visitors demonstrated their attacking intent throughout the encounter, registering 13 shots compared to Hull’s eight. Everton also recorded six shots on target, two more than the hosts, while controlling 64 per cent of possession.
Hull, however, proved difficult to overcome. Despite spending less time on the ball, the home side produced four attempts on target and earned seven corners, matching Everton’s attacking threat in key moments.
Everton’s ability to retain possession was reflected in their 583 passes, significantly more than Hull’s 238. The visitors also completed 88 per cent of their passes, compared to the Tigers’ 80 per cent, highlighting their greater control in midfield.
Hull compensated for Everton’s possession advantage with determination and a willingness to compete. The hosts committed 15 fouls, while Everton were penalised only four times, underlining the physical nature of Hull’s approach.
The statistics reflected a contest in which Everton enjoyed more of the ball and generated more attempts, but Hull remained competitive enough to prevent the visitors from turning their territorial advantage into a victory.
The 2-2 draw leaves both teams with positives and areas to improve. Hull will take encouragement from their ability to compete against an Everton side that had entered the match unbeaten, particularly after the disappointment of their previous league defeat.
For Jakirovic, the result provides an opportunity to rebuild momentum as Hull begin a demanding five-match run leading into the next international break. Maintaining their home form will be important if the Tigers are to continue making progress in the Premier League.
Everton extend their unbeaten league run under Moyes but remain under pressure to turn their solid performances into away victories. Their possession numbers and shot advantage suggest a side capable of controlling matches, although the draw means their search for a first league win on the road continues.
With both teams finding the net twice, the contest provided an entertaining return to Premier League action at the MKM Stadium. Hull demonstrated resilience in front of their supporters, while Everton showed enough attacking quality to remain a threat throughout.
Hull City Player Ratings
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Tzolakis | 6.5 |
| Coyle | 5.4 |
| Ajayi | 5.6 |
| Egan | 6.1 |
| Mendy | 6.6 |
| Giles | 5.7 |
| Gelhardt | 7.1 |
| Crooks | 5.7 |
| Slater | 6.0 |
| Thomas | 6.7 |
| McBurnie | 5.9 |
Everton Player Ratings
| Player | Rating |
|---|---|
| Barry | 7.5 |
| Grealish | 6.1 |
| Dewsbury-Hall | 7.4 |
| Johnson | 6.1 |
| Garner | 6.3 |
| Armstrong | 6.6 |
| Branthwaite | 6.0 |
| Keane | 6.1 |
| Tarkowski | 6.1 |
| Maitland-Niles | 6.6 |
| Pickford | 4.5 |
Match Statistics
| Statistic | Hull City | Everton |
|---|---|---|
| Shots | 8 | 13 |
| Shots on target | 4 | 6 |
| Possession | 36% | 64% |
| Passes | 238 | 583 |
| Pass accuracy | 80% | 88% |
| Fouls | 15 | 4 |
| Yellow cards | 2 | 0 |
| Red cards | 0 | 0 |
| Offsides | 1 | 4 |
| Corners | 7 | 6 |